First Aid

First aid safety

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GRAPES

GRAPES   Prevent Heart Disease   Each tiny grape is packed with a mix of compounds that stop heart disease.  They prevent the build-up of "bad" cholesterol widen blood vessels so blood can easily pass through and reduce the risk of blood clots that can lead to a heart attack.  Just one cup of purple grapes or 8 oz of purple grape juice a day will get you the benefits.   Help Prevent Breast Cancer   A study shows one cup of purple grapes a day is enough to load your body with compounds that keep breast tissue free of too much estrogen, a key cause of breast tumors.   Whiten teeth!   Grapes contain malic acid, which clogs the pores in the surface of your teeth to prevent stains from embedding in you tooth while removing surface discoloration as you chew says Elisa Mello, DDS., assistant clinical professor at New York University

VITAMINS

The Vitamins are necessary auxiliaries in metabolism. They combine with specific proteins, as parts of various oxidative enzyme systems which are concerned with the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat in the body. Thus, they are intimately involved in the mechanism which releases energy, carbon dioxide and water as the end products of metabolism.

Vitamins can be broadly divided into Fat Soluble and Water Soluble Vitamins. Vitamins A  D  E  and  K are fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamins B ( B1  B2   B6  B12 ) and C are water-soluble.

Vitamin - A
Year	1913
	Retinol
Main Metabolic Function	Essential for normal growth and development. For normal function of epithelical cells and normal development of teeth and bones. Prevents Night blindness.
Deficiency - Effects	Retarded growth. Reduced resistance to infection. Abnormal function of gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts due to altered epithelial membranes. Interferes with production of "night purple".
Available	Milk, Egg yolk, Ghee, Butter, Carrots, Tomatoes, Leafy and Yellow vegetables, Cod liver oil and Fresh fruits.
Nature	Fat-Soluble
Year	1936
	Thiamin
Main Metabolic Function	An important aid in carbohydrate metabolism. Needed for Proper functioning of the digestive tract and nervous system. Beriberi. Loss of muscle.
Deficiency - Effects	Loss of appetite. Impaired digestion of starches and sugars. Various nervous disorder coordination.
Available	Peas, Beans and Cereals.
Nature	Water-Soluble
Vitamin - B2
Year	1935
	Riboflavin
Main Metabolic Function	Needed in formation of certain enzymes and in cellular oxidation. Prevents inflammation of oral mucous membranes and the tongue.
Deficiency - Effects	Impaired growth, lassitude and weakness. Causes cheillosis or glossittis. May result in Photophobia and cataracts.
Available	Peas, Beans and Cereals.
Nature	Water-Soluble
Vitamin - B6
Year	1934
	Pyridoxine
Main Metabolic Function	Acts as do other B vitamins. To break down protein, carbohydrate and fat. Acts as a catalyst in the formation of niacin from tryptophan.
Deficiency - Effects	Increased irritability, convulsions and peripheral neuritis. Anorexia, nausea and vomiting.
Available	Peas, Beans and Cereals.
Nature	Water-Soluble
Vitamin - B12
Year	1948
	Cyanocobalamin
Main Metabolic Function	Essential for development of red blood cells. Required for maintenance of skin, nerve tissues, bone and muscles.
Deficiency - Effects	Results in pernicious anaemia. Weakness, fatigue, sore and cracked lips.
Available	Peas, Beans and Cereals.
Nature	Water-Soluble
Vitamin - C
Year	1919
	Ascorbic Acid
Main Metabolic Function	Needed for form the cementing substance, collagen, in various tissues (skin, dentine, cartilage and bone matrix). Assists in woundhealing and bone fractures.
Deficiency - Effects	Lowered resistance to infections. Susceptibility to dental cavities, pyotthea and bleeding gums. Delayed wound healing. Specific treatment for Scurvy.
Available	Fresh vegetables, Lemon, Orange, Tomatoes, Cabbage , Turnip and Lettuce (Beetroot).
Nature	Water-Soluble
Year	1925
	Cholecalciferol
Main Metabolic Function	Requlates absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestinal tract. Affords antiachitic activity.
Deficiency - Effects	Interferes with utilisation of calcium and phosphorus in bone and teeth formation. Development of bone disease, rickets and caries.
Available	Butter, Milk, Ghee, Cod liver oil, Yolk of Eggs and also in Sunrays.
Nature	Fat-Soluble
Vitamin - E
Year	1936
	Tocopherols
Main Metabolic Function	Protects tissues, cell membranes and Vitamin A against peroxidation. Helps strengthen red blood cells.
Deficiency - Effects	Decreased red blood cell resistance to rupture.
Available	Germinating Wheat.
Nature	Fat-Soluble
Vitamin - K
Year	1935
	Phytomenadione
Main Metabolic Function	Essential for formation of normal amounts of prothrombin and blood coagulation.
Deficiency - Effects	diminished blood clotting time. Increased incidence of hemorrhages.
Available	Fish, Wheat and Oats.
Nature	Fat-Soluble

 

Home Remedies for ALLERGY

ALLERGY The word 'allergy' means an altered or abnormal tissue reaction after exposure to an antigen (also called an 'allergen'). The allergic reaction occurs if the body tissues are sensitive to the allergen. The allergen may reach the tissues by direct contact with the skin or various mucous membranes of the organs or through the bloodstream after absorption. Almost any part of the body can be affected by allergies. Allergic reactions are caused by a wide range of substances and conditions. These include pollens, dust, cosmetics, and animal hair; poisonous plants, serums, vaccines, and drugs; physical agents such as heat, cold and sunlight, as well as a variety of foods. The foods that commonly cause allergic reactions are oranges, milk, eggs, wheat, fish and other sea foods, chocolates, tomatoes, and strawberries. Symptoms of Allergies Recurring headaches, hay fever, Vomiting etc Allergic symptoms are manifested in various forms in different organs. These include recurring headaches, migraines, dizziness, irritability, nervousness, depression, neuralgia, conjunctivitis, eczema, hay fever, a stuffy or runny nose, diarrhoea, vomiting, urticaria, asthma, shortness of breath, and swelling of the face and eyes. The same substance can cause different symptoms in different people at different times. Causes of Allergies Dietetic errors and faulty living style Allergy is an indication of disharmony caused by dietetic errors and a faulty style of living. Refined, processed foods and stress It is also caused by excessive consumption of refined and processed foods, loaded with numerous chemical additives, many of which cause powerful reactions. Emotional and psychological stress can also lead to allergies. Allergies Home Remedies Allergies treatment using Nutrients Certain nutrients have been found beneficial in the prevention and treatment of allergies. Often the intake of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid brings great relief to the sufferer. This vitamin may be taken in a dose of 100 mg daily for a month. In such cases, liberal amounts of pantothenic acid helps even though the recovery takes several weeks. A dose of 400 mg of vitamin E taken daily for four to six weeks is also beneficial as this vitamin possesses effective anti-allergic properties. Allergies treatment using Castor Oil It is found that five drops of castor oil in half a cup of any fruit or vegetable juice, or plain water, and taken on an empty stomach in the morning, is beneficial for allergies of the intestinal tract, skin, and nasal passages. Allergies treatment using Lime Lime is considered an effective remedy for any kind of allergy. Half a lime may be squeezed in a glass of lukewarm water and sweetened with a teaspoon of honey. It can be taken once daily first thing in the morning for several months. This remedy not only flushes the system of toxins but also acts as an antitoxic and antiallergic agent. However, those who are allergic to citrus fruits should not take recourse to this remedy. Allergies treatment using Bananas One or two bananas a day are useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and who consequently suffer from skin rashes, digestive disorders, or asthma, The fruit does, however, cause allergic reactions in certain sensitive persons and they should avoid it. Allergies treatment using Vegetable Juices A quantity of 500 ml carrot juice or a combination of carrot juice with beet and cucumber juices, has been found beneficial in the treatment of allergies. In the case of mixed juices, 100 ml each of beet and cucumber juices should be mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice to prepare 500 ml or half a litre of mixed juice. This should be taken once daily. Allergies diet Fresh fruit juices The best way to prevent or overcome allergies is to strengthen overall physical resistance so as not to fall an easy prey to every allergen that one comes across. To start with, the patient should fast on fresh fruit juices for four or five days. Repeated short juice fasts are likely to result in better tolerance to previous allergies. Mono diet of vegetables or fruits After the juice fast, the patient can like a mono diet of vegetables or fruits such as carrots, grapes, or apples for one week, after that. After that, one more food may be added to the mono diet. A week later, a third food may be added, and so on. After four weeks, protein foods can be introduced, one at a time. In case an allergic reaction to a newly-introduced food is noticed, it should be discontinued and a new food tried. In this way, all real allergens can be eventually eliminated from the diet. Avoid food like tea/coffee or containing chemical additives and preservatives Foods which should be excluded from the diet are tea, coffee, chocolate, cola drinks, alcohol, sugar and products made from it, refined cereals, meal, fish, chicken, tobacco, milk, cheese, butter, smoked and salted pickled foods, and foods containing any chemical additives, preservatives and flavourings. Other Allergies treatments Avoid stress, do meditation,exercise and mind control For allergic conditions in which an element of mental stress is present as well, it is essential to employ such methods as relaxation, exercise, meditation, and mind control. These methods reduce or remove stress and thereby contribute towards the treatment of allergies. Yogasanas Yogic asanas like yogamudra, ardh-matsyendrasana , sarvangasana, shavasana, and anuloma-viloma pranayama are beneficial in the treatment of allergy.

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Home Remedies for ANOREXIA / LOSS OF APPETITE

ANOREXIA / LOSS OF APPETITE Anorexia means loss of appetite. It is a symptom of disturbed digestion and common in all diseases which lead to general weakness. This condition results from failure of the activity of the stomach and secretion of gastric juices due to low vitality which, in turn, can be due to various causes. Anorexia Symptoms Refuse to eat and suffers from insomnia Persons suffering from anorexia may refuse to eat and suffer from insomnia. In course of time, emaciation becomes severe. Anorexia Causes Faulty diet and don't do physical work People suffer from anorexia when they habitually take a faulty diet and hardly do any physical work. Stress and strain It may also result from stress and strain such as domestic worry, emotional disturbances, difficult working conditions, and nervous disorders. General body disorders and diseases also lead to this condition. Home Remedies for Anorexia Anorexia treatment using Oranges Oranges are an extremely useful remedy for anorexia. They stimulate the flow of digestive juices, thereby improving digestion and increasing appetite. One or two oranges a day are advised. Anorexia treatment using Sour Grapes Sour grapes are another effective remedy for anorexia. The juice of these grapes should be used in kneading the flour before preparing chapatis. Chapatis made in this manner should be eaten continuously for two to three weeks. This remedy will tone up the stomach and improve the appetite. Anorexia treatment using Lime Lime is also a valuable remedy for restoring a lost appetite. A preparation made from this fruit and ginger has been found very effective in overcoming this condition. About one teaspoon of the juice of lime should be mixed with an equal quantity of the juice of ginger. One gram of rock salt should be added to this mixture. It should then be placed in sunlight for three days. A teaspoon taken after each meal will tone up the digestive system and improve the appetite. Anorexia treatment using Apples Apples are another variety of fruit useful in anorexia. They help digestion by stimulating the flow of pepsin, a proteindigesting enzyme, in the stomach. The old adage, 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away', is certainly a valuable one. Anorexia treatment using Garlic Garlic possesses a special property to stimulate the digestive tone of the system and improve appetite. A soup prepared from this vegetable can be of immense help to a patient suffering from anorexia. Three or four cloves of raw garlic should be boiled in a cup of water. This soup can be reinforced with the juice of half a lemon and taken twice daily. Anorexia treatment using Ginger The use of ginger is valuable in the loss of appetite.About five grams of this vegetable should be ground and licked with a little salt once a day for the treatment of this condition. Anorexia diet Orange juice and water The only effective treatment for anorexia is a thorough cleansing of the digestive tract, and adoption of a sensible diet thereafter, along with a change in the style of living. To begin with, the patient should fast on orange juice and water for three to five days. The procedure is to take the juice of an orange in a glass of warm water, every two hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nothing else should be taken, as otherwise, the value of the fast will be entirely lost. If orange juice does not agree with the system, only water or half a glass of carrot juice mixed with an equal quantity of water may be taken. All-fruit diet After the juice fast, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for a further five days, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, grape-fruit, oranges, pineapple, peaches, and melons, at five-hourly intervals. Restricted diet of cooked vegetables , juicy fruits etc Thereafter he may adopt a restricted diet of easily-digestible foods, consisting of lightly cooked vegetables, juicy fruits, and buttermilk for about ten days. Other Anorexia treatments Warm-water enema During the first three to five days of the juice fast, the bowels should be cleansed with a warm-water enema each day. The poisonous matter will thus be eliminated by this self cleansing process. Ice bag application on stomach The application of an ice-bag over the stomach for half an hour before meals, and a cool hip bath once or twice daily, will go a long way in curing anorexia. Cool hip bath, Sun and cool air bath Other measures beneficial in the treatment of this condition are sun and cool air baths. An early morning sun bath, taken one day, should be alternated with an early morning cool air bath the next day. An outdoor life and abdominal massages are also advised.

Home Remedies for APPETITE

APPETITE Good appetite is associated with a hypertonic stomach, normal muscular efficiency and digestion. Probably it depends upon pleasant odor and memory of good food and sharpness of appetite. Further some individuals have likings for a particular kind of food often from habit. This food habit is another important item in inducing good appetite. Hunger is a painful sensation when the stomach is empty for sometime, caused by increased tonic and peristaltic action of the gastric contents. After a normal meal, the stomach slowly relaxes comfortably accommodating the food. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder affecting mainly girls or women, although boys or men can also suffer from it. It usually starts in the teenage years. On account of any mental depression or a fanciful idea (especially for reducing obesity), she takes less food than normal. The appetite gradually lessens. There is a strong, fear of putting on weight, who suffers from anorexia. There are recommendations regarding how much food is allowed and how much exercise is needed after eating certain amounts of food. Those suffering from anorexia pursue a very low 'ideal' weight. The weight loss may cause hormonal disturbances and women with anorexia nervosa may stop having periods. Body weight is maintained at least 15 per cent below that expected for a person's height. It is self-induced weight loss caused by avoiding fattening foods and may involve taking excessive exercise, using laxatives or diuretics or self-induced vomiting. Puberty, deaths in the family and other life stresses are all believed to be the main causes of anorexia. Self-induced weight loss includes fasting, low food intake, excessive exercise, diuretic medicines (medicines that make you urinate more) laxatives, diet pills or vomiting. HOME REMEDIES FOR APPETITE To stop you from overeating take 10 deep breaths immediately. Take the breaths as deep as your body will allow you. To decrease appetite stop using artificial sweeteners (even Splenda) and stop eating the sugar-free candies. This is an effective home remedy for appetite. Take chickweed herb to decrease the appetite. Drink peppermint tea to increase appetite. Oranges stimulate the flow of digestive juices, thereby improving digestion and increasing appetite. The juice of sour grapes is another effective remedy for anorexia. The juice of these grapes should be used in kneading the flour before preparing chapattis. Chapattis made in this manner should be eaten continuously for two to three weeks. About one teaspoon of the juice of lime should be mixed with an equal quantity of the juice of ginger. One gram of rock salt should be added to this mixture. It should then be placed in sunlight for three days. A teaspoon taken after each meal will tone up the digestive system and improve the appetite. Apples digestion by stimulating the flow of pepsin, a protein-digesting enzyme, in the stomach. Three or four cloves of raw garlic should be boiled in a cup of water. This soup can be reinforced with the juice of half a lemon and taken twice daily. This is also an effective home remedy for appetite. About five grams of ginger should be ground and licked with a little salt once a day for the treatment of this condition. The application of an ice bag over the stomach for half an hour before meals, and a cool hipbath once or twice daily, will help in curing anorexia. An early morning sunbath, taken one day, should be alternated with an early morning cool air bath the next day. Restore the person to a healthy weight. Restore healthy eating patterns. Treat any physical complications or associated mental health problems. Address thoughts, feelings and beliefs concerning food and body image. Enlist family support. In more obstinate cases, the patient is removed to a new surrounding in a psychotherapy institution. Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people examine their relationships with friends and family and to make changes in problem areas. Cognitive-behaviora l therapy teaches patients techniques to monitor and change their eating habits as well as to change the way they respond to difficult situations. Supplements of vitamins and minerals should be taken to increase the appetite. Eat an apple to keep the doctor away. If you live alone, why not think about sharing with friends or relatives for a while. Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer. The service is provided as general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.

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Home Remedies for INFERTILITY MEN / WOMEN

Female Sterility Infertility in females refers to the incapacity to conceive and give birth to a living baby. Infertility or failure to reproduce must be distinguished from frigidity which denotes failure to perform the sex act or performing it imperfectly. Female infertility symptoms Psychological factors can result in various female sterility symptoms Psychological factors like emotional stress, tension, mental depression, anxiety, and fear may also result in psychosomatic sterility. This condition is generally temporary and can be corrected by psychotherapy Causes Of Infertility In Men: 1.Any current medical illness. 2.Medical history (mumps, sexually transmitted diseases). 3.Surgical history (operations on testes, inguinal hernia repair). 4.Occupation (exposure to excessive heat, toxins). 5.Drugs (chemotherapy) . 6.Smoking, alcohol indigestion. 7.Erectile or ejaculatory difficulties. Causes Of Infertility In Women: Age is an important factor in female sub-fertility. Increasing age reduces fertility in women and also the likelihood of successful treatment.Even in a younger woman, a depleted ovarian reserve will reduce natural fertility. 1.Gynaecological conditions-ovulatio n failure-oligomenorr hoea or amenorrhoea, tubal damage, cervical mucous defects, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, etc. 2.Coital infrequency and poor timing. 3.Menstrual irregularities. 4.Pelvic infection(current or past). 5.Current medical illness like Tuberculosis. 6.Smoking, alcohol indigestion. Causes of female infertility Female infertility due to physical disability Female infertility may be due to physical defects, physical debility, and functional faults. Sterility due to physical debility can result from poor health as a consequence of certain acute or chronic diseases. Complaints like gonorrhoea, syphilis, and inflammation of the fallopian tubes also come under this category. Other causes of female infertility Chronic anaemia, constipation, and leucorrhoea aggravate these conditions. Sterility may also be caused by loss of essential glands or organs of reproduction, or a decrease in their functions. Obesity or emaciation due either to dietetic errors or faulty metabolism are other factors which call contribute to female infertility. Female infertility treatment Female infertility treatment using Banyan Roots The tender roots of the banyan tree are one of the valuable remedies found beneficial in the treatment of female sterility where there are no organic defect or congenital deformities. These roots should be dried in the shade and finely powdered. About twenty grams of this powder should be mixed with milk, which should be five times the weight of this powder, and taken at night for three consecutive nights after the monthly periods are over. When this remedy is administered, no other food should be eaten for a short while thereafter. This remedy should be repeated after the completion of the menstrual cycle every month till conception takes place. Female sterility treatment using Jambul Leaves An infusion of the fresh tender leaves of jambul fruit is an excellent remedy for sterility or miscarriage due to an ovarian or endometrium functional disorder. The infusion can be prepared by pouring 250 ml of boiling water over 20 gm of fresh jambul leaves, and allowing it to steep for two hours. The infusion may be taken with either two teaspoons of honey or 200 ml of buttermilk. Female infertility treatment using Winter Cherry The herb winter cherry is another valuable remedy found helpful in sterility. The herb should be powdered and six grams of this powder should be taken with one cup of milk for five to six nights after menstruation. Female sterility treatment using Nutrients Certain nutrients, especially vitamins C and E, and zinc, have been found helpful in some cases of sterility. A woman who is unable to conceive should take 1000 mg of vitamin C, 100 I.U. of vitamin E and 30 mg of zinc daily. Infertility Diet Seeds, nuts, curd and cottage cheese. Physical debility and functional faults of organic nature can be cured by simple and effective methods of natural treatment, of which optimum nutrition is an essential part. Fasting is the best remedy for the treatment of disorders resulting from toxins in the system. A short fast of two or three day should be undertaken at regular intervals by women who are unable to bear children. Diet is an important factor in the treatment of infertility. It should contain seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits. These foods should be supplemented with milk, vegetable oils, and honey. Curd and cottage cheese are also recommended. About seventy to eighty per cent of the diet should consist of foods in their natural uncooked state, because cooking destroys much of the nutritional value of most foods. Sprouting is an excellent way of consuming seeds, beans, and grains in their raw form, as in the process of sprouting, the nutritional value is multiplied, new vitamins are created and the protein quality is improved. Food to be avoided Excessive fat, spicy foods, strong tea, coffee, white sugar, white flour, refined cereals, flesh foods, greasy or fried foods should all be avoided. Other female infertilty treatment Warm-water enema The bowels should be cleansed by a warm-water enema during the period of fasting and afterwards when necessary. This will have a beneficial effect not only on the digestive system but also on the surrounding organs of the urinary and genital system. Yogasanas Certain Yogasanas which are said to tone up the gonads or ovaries should also be practised regularly for overcoming female sterility. These asanas are sarvangasana, matsyasana, ardhamatsyendrasana , paschimottanasana and shalabhasana. All these measures, along with clean habits, proper rest, and relaxation will go a long way in overcoming female sterility. Mud packs and cold-water treatments Other helpful measures in overcoming female sterility are mud packs and cold-water treatments like a hip bath and wet girdle pack. These treatments greatly improve internal circulation in the genital organs and relieve them of all kinds of inflammation and other abnormalities. Mud packs may be applied to the abdomen and sexual organs. The cold hip bath should be taken for ten minutes at a water temperature of 10degree C-18.3 degree C. For a wet girdle pack, a thin underwear wrung in cold water should be worn. Over this, a thick, dry cotton or woollen underwear should be worn. All cold treatments should be suspended during menstruation. FOR COUPLES Here is what experts advise couples who are beginning to worry about their lack of success at conception. Give it a year. If you're under 28, your sex life is wonderful, and there's nothing in your medical history that points to a possible reproductive problem, our experts say keep trying for a year. "About 60 percent of couples conceive within six months and 90 percent within the year," says Mitchell Levine, M.D., an obstetrician/ gynecologist with Woman-Care in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "When you get older, naturally, fertility decreases a bit." Even women in their twenties don't ovulate every month, adds Joseph H. Bellina, M.D., Ph.D., director of Omega International Institute, a fertility clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the thirties, the likelihood of monthly ovulation begins to lessen. That's why the older you are, the sooner you'll want to consult a specialist. Talk it out. Are you both sure you want that baby, or is one of you ambivalent? Our experts have had plenty of stories about couples who try half-heartedly for years but don't conceive until after one partner's uncertainty is resolved. "I had a couple where the man was older, he had children from another marriage, and he wasn't sure he wanted to be a father at this point in his life," says Dr. Levine. "After a couple of sessions of really talking it out, he got really excited about becoming a father again. And that's when they conceived." "It's eerie," adds Marilyn Milkman, M.D., a San Francisco obstetrician/ gynecologist and clinic faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco. "I've had four patients come in for fertility evaluations, walk out the door, and become pregnant within the month." Let the passion take you. Forget about ovulatory charts, mucus charts, and scheduled sex until you absolutely have to worry about them. If you've got time, "let the passion take you," says Dr. Milkman. "Often that does better." Ease up on your work schedule. Workaholism and constant pressure can put the squeeze on fertility, says Dr. Levine. "I see a lot of career people and I say to them 'take a look at what message you're giving to your body.' " For Dr. Levine, it makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint. Your body knows that a period of extreme stress is not an ideal time to get pregnant. Use the standard missionary position on days when you suspect the woman is fertile. The man-on-top style of intercourse is best for conception, says Dr. Bellina. The woman should remain lying down for 20 minutes after her partner ejaculates. "I advise couples to have intercourse on those nights and then fall asleep," he says. Stop smoking. Cigarettes can impair fertility in men and women. Studies of men have shown that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have sperm counts below the normal range, and to have less sperm motility. An English study of 17,032 women showed that the more cigarettes a woman smoked per day, the less fertile she was likely to be. Researchers suspect that smoking may alter hormone levels in a woman's body. FOR WOMEN ONLY Here are some helpful measures that women can take to help increase the chances of pregnancy. Make sure you're ovulating. Are you having regular periods? If not, you may not ovulate. "One key to ovulation is noticeable changes in cervical mucus midway through the cycle," says Dr. Milkman. "The mucus will be thin, watery, and clear." Other signs include premenstrual breast tenderness, cramps, and what the Germans call mittelschmerz—ovulation pain, she says. Another way to test ovulation is with a kit you buy at the drugstore. The kit, which reads levels of the ovulation release hormone in your urine, is only about 50 percent effective when you use it morning and night, says Dr. Bellina. Kits available only through your doctor's office tend to be more accurate. The best time to test is between 10:00 a.m. and noon. If you get a positive result the first month you use it, great. If three cycles pass without giving you a positive result, it could mean that either the kit isn't sensitive enough for you or you're not ovulating. Either way, consult your doctor. If you want to be a fertility goddess, try to look like one. Some women can induce ovulation by putting on a few pounds or taking off a few. In general, the closer your actual weight is to the ideal weight listed in the Metropolitan Life statistical tables, the better. You want to be within 95 percent of that ideal but below 120 percent. Researchers have found that body fat can actually produce and store estrogen, a hormone that primes the body for pregnancy. When total body estrogen is too high or too low, the system can be thrown off balance. The more fat, the more estrogen produced. In one study by reproductive endocrinologist G. William Bates, M.D., a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and dean of the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, 29 slim and nonovulatory women attained ovulation when they gained enough weight to put them within 95 percent of the ideal. Within three years of entering the program, 24 of the 29 became pregnant. In another study by Bates, 11 of 13 overweight and nonovulatory women regained ovulation after they lost weight: 10 conceived. Go easy on the exercise. There are two reasons for this. If exercise causes you to lose too much body fat, you can stop ovulating. But even if you maintain normal body weight, you may still put yourself at risk if you spend more than an hour a day working hard at activities like running, cross-country skiing, or swimming. In a study of 346 women with ovulatory dysfunction, Beverly Green, M.D., a maternal and infant health specialist in Silverdale, Washington, found some evidence that women who had never been pregnant and who exercised vigorously for more than an hour a day increased their risk of infertility. The study found that exercise exerted its effect on fertility through a means independent of its ability to promote weight loss. What's going on here? Dr. Green is not sure. Dr. Bellina suspects the endorphins, brain chemicals released during vigorous exercise, may, like morphine, affect a woman's prolactin levels. Elevated prolactin levels may interfere with ovulation. At any rate, Dr. Green, a marathon runner who had no difficulty bearing children, cautions against overinterpreting her study. Her advice to dedicated athletes? "Try to cut back and see if it makes a difference." Time it just right. If ovulation is occurring normally, maybe you're just not making love when you're fertile. It could be that simple, says Dr. Levine. "Sometimes you've got two career people, they're having intercourse maybe once or twice a week, and they're just not hitting it," he says. How do you remedy this? Try to predict ovulation. If you don't want to fuss much, you can predict the date of your next period and count back 14 days. Then make love every night from day 11 through day 16. Or you can buy an over-the-counter ovulation test kit, which will give you about 24 to 36 hours advance warning of ovulation. When the test indicates ovulation, make love that night and the night after, advises Dr. Bellina. Thou shalt not douche. Anything that interferes with the pH level of the vagina can make life unfriendly for sperm. That includes douches, lubrication agents, and jellies. "I tell people never to douche," says Dr. Milkman. "If you leave the vagina alone, it will do just fine at cleaning itself." Go easy on caffeine. More than a cup of coffee a day can hurt your chances of becoming pregnant. The same holds true if you ingest the equivalent amount of caffeine from chocolate, soft drinks, or other caffeinated beverages. In a study of 104 women who were attempting to become pregnant, researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that those who drank more than the caffeine equivalent of a cup of coffee a day were half as likely to conceive as those who consumed less. FOR MEN ONLY And on the male side of the equation, there is more advice. Give your sperm time to bounce back. Any viral illness associated with fever can depress sperm count for up to three months, says Neil Baum, M.D., director of the Male Infertility Clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a clinical assistant professor of urology at Tulane University School of Medicine. Bad colds can have the same effect. Why is the effect so long-lasting? According to Dr. Baum, the normal cycle to produce a sperm is 78 days. It takes another 12 days for the sperm to mature. Healthy semen, by the way, contains in excess of 20 million sperm per teaspoon. If you looked at the sample under a microscope, more than 60 percent would appear to be swimming forward. If your sperm count is healthy, a cold or flu probably won't knock it out of the fertility range. But if it's borderline, an illness may. Say no to steroids. Anabolic steroids can shut off the pituitary gland and alter the body's natural hormone balance, says Dr. Baum. "It's not uncommon for athletes to have infertility problems," he adds. "Long-time use of steroids can permanently damage the testicles." Be wary of drugs and alcohol. Various over-the-counter and prescription drugs can depress sperm count. If you're not sure about the medications you use, consult your pharmacists or doctor. Tagamet, an ulcer medication, is one to watch out for. Others include chemotherapeutic agents and certain antibiotics. And various studies over the years show that chronic drinking and habitual marijuana use can be at fault, too. Keep 'em cool. Nature's way of keeping your testicles a half-degree cooler than your core body temperature is to house them outside the body. But if you heat the core temperature too much, or heat the testes themselves, you can affect sperm production. Dr. Baum advises you to be careful about excessive physical activity, temperature extremes, hot tubs, and close-fitting underwear if you want to father a child. Remember that abstinence makes the sperm grow stronger. If a baby is what you're after, daily intercourse can be too much of a good thing because it can decrease your sperm count. "For the average couple, this doesn't matter," says Dr. Levine. "But in a borderline case, this may do it." Most experts recommend you abstain for two days prior to the woman's fertile period to let the sperm build up, then make love every other day. Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer. The service is provided as general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor. Manikandan